The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-17
AT CEDAR CREEK.
/ Voice from the Army of West Virginia.

Voice from the Army OF West Virginia.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your readers
were not much surprised on opening THE Ma
TIoEAL TRIBUNE of Dec. 80 TO hear the old
familiar toot OF the Sixth Corps horn. In fact,
we were surprised that il remained silent so
long. We had not heard the familiar blast for
two OF three weeks, and were thinking that
perhaps the last Of the Sixth Corps tooters had
joined the Grand Army above, and that we
would have a rest until the resurrection morn,
when, awakened by blast frem Gabrels
trumpet, they would again seize their instru-
ments and greet us with the old familiar sound.
Capt. ID. A, Locllhart, Co. a, Glst Pa, winds up
in the following strain:
The sixth Corps in this battle az Cedar Creek did
almost all the lighting, losing 400 mcn and with
the assistance of the cavalry achieved tie destruc-
ton of EARLY army. Then once more TO the trans
ports aud down The Potomac: farewell to the VAL
ley forever aad 10 Washington until the rebellion
closed.
As he evidently ran out OF breath at this
point, let Us complete the strain and thereby
anticipate another article: The Sixth Corps
now returned TO Grants army, and, after con-
siderable skirmishing around Hatcher's Run,
finally succeeded in breaking the enemy's
lines in front Of Petersburg, capturing Forts
Gregg aud Harrison, driving the demoraized
enemy before them; fighting them again at
Five Forks High Bridge, Farmy!le, etc;
finally intcrposing themselves at Appomattox
between the cavalry and Lees army, compelling
the surrender Of the latter, thereby ending the
war. o. course there were few other troops
along in this campaign, but the Sixth Corps
did almost all the fghtiug.'"
The writer of this article was one Of the
Army OF West Virginia, and our brigade, being
the smallest, was on detached duty at the time
of the battle of Cedar Creek guarding a supply
train from Martinshurg. We were beyond
kernstown that morning on our way up when
we met the dcmoraliZcd portion of Sher.dan's
army seeking safety in flight We were imme-
diatcly halted aud depoyed across the Valley 10
arrest the stragglcrs; and will say right here
that they did not all belong 10 the Army Of
West Virginia and the Nineteenth Corps.
have never heard, and never expect 10 hear,
q member Of the Army of West Virginia deny
that IL was a complete rout on the morning Of
the 18th Of October SO far as they were con
cerned, but do assert, and without fear of con-
! tradiction from honest men, that the result
would have been the same had the position OF
/ the Army OF West Virginia been occupied by
either the Nineteenth or Sixth Corps Capt
! L0ckhart says:
The Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were shattered
and fled lE confusion TO The rear. The Sixth Corps
alone remained. u was finally forced back more
than "A mile, when Il was halted and assumed the
offensive with what brilliant results the country
knows.
in justice 10 the Nineteenth Corps will say
that the paragraph above quoted is not true
There was only part OF the Nineteenth Corps
/ in any confusion, a large portion of them re
tanning their organization aud fighting as vel
as any portion OF the Sixth Cops. Again, in
stead Of being forced back over q mile, they
1 were forced back more than five miles; and
instead Of Gen. Wright being ready 10 assum,
the offensive when Sheridan arrived, | have
always understood that when Gen. Sheridan
reached the field Gen. Wright informed hin
that he had the army ia good shape 10 re-
treat" and Sheridan's reply was:
Retreat! HI and d-nation, we're goini
back 10 our camps before night"
And when the offensive was assumed, mo-
only the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, but ais,
8 large part Of the Army of West Virginia, VIII
were rallied by Sheridau's personal magnetism
and had followed him up on his famous ride
took part ia the last grand charge that led q
victory.
To prove that the Sixth Corps did all th
fighting at the battle Of Cedar Creek" Capt
| LOckhart says its loss was 1900" IL that /
any evidence Of good fighting qualities, tn
other corps did still better fighting, as thei
loss was far heavier in proportion 10 number:
Shcrdan's total loss being $500
Col Jos Thoburn, Of the LIST w. Va, com
mandiug a division Of Crooks army, who los
his life on that fatal morning while trying {
rally his men, had informed Gen. Wright tina
the left flank Of bis army was exposed, an
that be should have cavalry there 90 protect il
and Wright had promised that he would sen
the cavalry, but did not do SO. j have alway
believed that il was through Gen. Wright
negligence that the surprise at Cedar Cree
occurred.
And now, Mr. Editor, allow me 10 say i
conclusion that We do not desire 10 pluck
single leaf from the laurels Of the grand oil
/ Sixth Corps They were GOOD fighters as goo
~ ever rammed cartridge into a musllet, bU
they were American citizens, and any othC
equal number Of American citizens under oh
same circumstances were just as goods
JENKINS, Co. j, 18th w. Va, New Cumberland
VIVA.